Genres

Bento Bako Lite: Anime Fest 2012

Hey gang! Your friendly neighborhood editor and manga reviewer, here. This upcoming weekend, from August 31-September 3, one of the longest running anime conventions in the country will take place in Dallas, Texas – Anime Fest. And I will be there! There will be plenty to do, and single day and weekend passes will be available at the door, so come on out! Now, it did move locations this year, so be sure to check your maps! It’s still in the same relative area (honestly it’s just a few blocks difference, I think). Instead of the Hyatt at Reunion Tower where it has been held for several years now, the con is moving to the larger venue of the Sheraton (where A-Kon is held). It’s a little low on American voice actors and industry this year, but it is posting several big Japanese creators, including: manga creator Arina Tanemura, director and animator Koji Miromoto, animator and illustrator Tatsuyuki Tanaka, animator Yoshimitsu Yamashita, writer Dai Sato, and director Sayo Yamamoto.

The convention boasts a mighty amount of entertainment over its four days, including three DJ hosted dances, a semi-formal ball, costume workshops, board games, video games, animation and writing workshops, anime screenings, voice acting and singing contests, costume contests, a large dealer room, and more! There is plenty to keep you busy at all hours of the day or night.

For stalking purposes, as well as to give you a glimpse of what’s on offer this upcoming weekend, here’s my tentative schedule for this year’s con:

Friday:

6pm VOICE ACTOR PANEL ROOM 6

7:30 OPENING CEREMONIES MAIN EVENTS

8pm COSPLAY RUNWAY MAIN EVENTS

9pm TURBULENCE IN THE ANIME WORLD PANEL ROOM 5 WITH WESLEY BOWEN

10:30 pm FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE MAIN EVENTS WITH DJ JOHNNY VIOLENCE

11pm LUPIN THE THIRD: FUJIKO MINE PANEL ROOM 6

Saturday:

11am PHILOSOPHY IN ANIME PANEL ROOM 4 WITH ZACHERY RYAN

12pm ANI.ME PANEL ROOM 2

1pm FUNIMATION PANEL ROOM 3

2pm ALL ABOUT ARINA TANEMURA PANEL ROOM 2

4pm FUNIMATION INDUSTRY PANEL MAIN EVENTS

THE DARK ARTS OF ANIME LICENSING PANEL ROOM 1 WITH SEDAR

5pm YOSHIMITSU YAMASHITA PANEL ROOM 2

5:30 pm GIRLS AND GAMING PANEL ROOM 5 WITH ALISSA BUTZOW

7pm SEMI-FORMAL BALL SPECIAL EVENTS

8:30pm RAMEN AND RICE MAIN EVENTS

9pm LEETSTREET BOYS MAIN EVENTS

10:30pm SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE WITH DJ BLADE MAIN EVENTS

Sunday:

11am ANI-IDOL ROUND 2 PANEL ROOM 6

12pm VOICE ACTOR PANEL ROOM 3

1pm THE DAI SATO DIGEST PANEL ROOM 4

2pm ANI-IDOL FINALS MAIN EVENTS

3pm MORIMOTO, TANAKA, SATO JOINT PANEL ROOM 4

4pm MANGA VS COMICS PANEL ROOM 2

ARINA TANEMURA DRAWING EXHIBITION PANEL ROOM 6

5pm VOICE OVER CONTEST ROUND 3 PANEL ROOM 1

A CLOSER LOOK AT LUPIN 3: THE WOMAN CALLED FUJIKO MINE PANEL ROOM 4

6pm WEB COMIC ARTISTS PANEL ROOM 2

VA PANEL ROOM 3

8pm COSPLAY COMPETITION MAIN EVENTS

10pm ANI.ME PANEL 17+ PANEL ROOM 1

10:30pm SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE WITH DJ BLEU WULF MAIN EVENTS

Monday:

10am AFEST FEEDBACK PANEL ROOM 6

I’m uh…already seeing some problems there. Like at least three times I intend to be in two places at once. As well as no time for lunch. Oops. I’m sure I’ll manage something! Got a couple of interviews to slide in there somewhere, too. Anyway, maybe I’ll see you there!